query re DLA/DMP/Care needs

alieshia

I was advised DLA is protected income but that I couldn't put it down as DLA in then same amount out as care needs by an advisor today as i didn't have proof of what i spend it on, which varies each month due to the nature of my illness. If i was receiving a motability car i could put it down as i'd have some sort of regular evidence like a letter. So as they said i can't put it down as care needs it then becomes income on the financial statement which then leads you to believe i have spare cash for bigger repayment which i quite simply don't. The advisor is obviously trained in these matters and i'm not so what do i do now? I can't afford the repayments she calculated

Do i let her go ahead with the DMP and financial statement she worked out? go elsewhere for 2nd opinion? go it alone and struggle along?

I feel so stressed now its unreal. She made me feel like a con artist or something like i didn't deserve the benefits i get, she doesn't know me from adam she doesn't know what my issues are i feel so paranoid now.

Byatt

I don't know the answer but wanted to give you a response as I know how awful it feels when on benefits and people appear to judge us. However, I am sure she is just doing her job and as with all these things proof seems to be needed. However, who are you doing the DMP with (is it ok to ask you? I'm new to this)...and a second opinion seems a good idea. Have you asked on the CCCS thread? (a sticky at the top of this forum)

Do you pay someone for your care needs? Do you buy things to support you? Will you have receipts?

dancingfairy

o.k the most logial solutions would be to a) include it but include care allowances as the same in your SOA - who cares if you don't spend the same amount each month - it's not up to them to have to see receipts surely?
b) average out what you spend on care needs and put this figure in and inlcude your care allowance - although if you generally spend less than you are allowed this will leave you at a slight disadvantage as your cerditors will want any 'spare' paid to them
c) leave out the care allowance and also associated expenses - could be a bit difficult to explain though if you are pointing out to creditors that you are disabled and cna't do x,y,z or that you are vulnerable.
Sounds like you saw a strange adviser - i don't know whether it was a bank/creditors adviser who's aim would be potentially to free up more for you to pay your debts, whether it was a fee charging one or whether it was one of the free ones that's recommended - whichever it was go with someone else who's free and can come up with something sensible. There is absolutely no point whatsoever setting up a payment arrangement you can't stick to - all you'll do is annoy your creditors when you don't stick to it.
df

huggsy

This happened to us while on dmp with cccs, the motability part was ok as we could account for where that went to (the care) but the care side was always taken as part of our dmp and the last time it was calculated we just could not afford to make the payments so we have decided to try to go it alone. You do not have to stick with any plan that any of the advisors help you with. I got loads of advice just by reading the many posts on here and I am sure someone who knows a lot more than me will help you out.

alieshia

thx everyone! what I'm going to do is keep receipts and records of exactly what I spend on care needs for a month and then go back to the CAB with hard evidence. Don't want to enter into an unmanageable DMP and say I have more spare income than I do then a month later say well actually it's different because don't think the creditor people would see that in very good light. Still angry about being made to feel like a fraudster I probably over reacting but I felt out of sorts.

thanks again and good night! :A